Parcel-carrier box.



PATENTED MAY 30, 1905.

0. P. COLEMAN.

PARCEL CARRIER BOX.

APPLICATION FILED 00T- 25,1904.

STATES Patented May 30, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

PARCEL-CARRIER BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming" part of Letters Patent No. 791,077, dated May 30, 1905.

Application filed October 25, 1904. Serial No. 229,914.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. COLEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dumont, Bergen county, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Parcel-Carrier Boxes, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

In the use of carriers for parcel or mail in which the box for containing the paper or other articles is transmitted from one station to another through a tube or otherwise it is objectionable to have the box so constructed that it must be taken apart or a cover must be removed in order to place the articles within it and to take the same therefrom.

By myinvention I seek to provide a simple form of parcel-box in which papers or mailmatter may be quickly placed within the box for transmission to one station and removed therefrom on its receipt without taking the box apart or removing a cover, while at the same time the contents placed within the box are securely retained therein during its transmission to and from the different stations.

My invention also providesa desirable sliding bearing for the box in its transmission through the tube, the bearings also serving as buffers.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the various novel and peculiar combinations and arrangements of the different parts of the device, all as hereinafter fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved mail or parcel box looking at the open end thereof. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the box, together with a portion of a transmitting-tube, which is shown as broken away.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numbers of reference indicate like parts throughout, 1 is a hollow tubular member made of suitable rigid material, such as metal, and

having one end permanently closed by a cap 2, while the other end is open at 3, the structure thus constituting a cylindrical box open at one end, the open end being the rear end, while the closed end forms the front end, which is first inserted in the transmittingtube 7. Within the compartment or interior of the box is arranged a spring member 4, consisting in a flat metal spring having its inner end secured to the side of the interior of the box by suitable rivets 5. This retaining spring member 4 extends forwardly to the rear open end of the box, being slightly curved on itself, so as to gradually seek the opposite side of the box and against which it bears at or near the open end 3. The fixed point against which the retaining-spring 4 bears is preferably the edge of the mouth of the box or a point a slight distance within the same; but I prefer to have it at the edge, as shown, the mouth of the box being rounded at 6 to form a smooth surface at such point. The free end of the spring member 4 projects beyond the open end of the box, so as to be readily manipulated or lifted by the finger of the user of the box in inserting papers or letters within the box or in taking the same therefrom. In the use of this box the clerk may take the papers or letters, lift the spring 4 by taking hold of the end of it with his finger, and thereupon inserting the bunch or lot of papers within the box and beneath the springin such a manner that the spring clamps the articles against the side of the box and retains them securely therein during transmission through the ordinary pneumatic tube, a portion of which is shown at 7 in Fig. 2. The closed end of the box is the forward end, which is inserted first in the transmitting-tube. By virtue of having the spring member 4 extend a considerable distance lengthwise through the box and to curve from one side thereof over to the opposite side the articles or papers inserted within the box beneath the spring are pressed upon by the spring 4 practically throughout the length of the spring, and this extended contact serves materially to keep the contents from rattling in the box, such contents being also securely clamped beneath the end of the spring member 4: at the edge of the box. The articles or papers inserted within the box may be left to project a slight distance from the open or rear end thereof, and this projecting part of the contents enables the user to quickly operate the box in its ordinary use as a parcel or mail box in ordinary store-service.

In order that the retaining-spring member 4 may be readily manipulated at its outer end, I form the same with a rounded handle-like loop 8 by simply bending the end.of the spring over upon itself and riveting it at 9. This construction not only forms a convenient part which can be grasped by the fingers, but at the same time presents a smooth and finished end, having no places that can catch in the contents of the box or in foreign material.

At the respective ends of the body of the box 1 I mount sliding bearings 10 and 11, respectively, of suitable soft material, such as felt, and form the same into circular shape concentric with the cylindrical box and of a considerably larger diameter than the same. The bearing at the rear end is a thick annular body or collar which is shrunk snugly onto the exterior of the box and has the flange 6 at the edge of the box sunk into the outer face of the felt body flush therewith. The bearing or felt piece 11 at the forward end consists of a thick circular disk, of felt, which is placed directly against the closed end 2 of the box' and is securely held thereto by means of a small metal plate 12 upon the exterior and a set of bolts 13, which pass through the clamping-plate 12, the felt body 11, and the end cap 2 of the box. These bearings 10 and 11 being formed of felt render the passage of the box through a transmitting-tube noiseless. At the same time they afford good sliding bearings. They may also act as buffers for the box in its travel in the tube. This form of box, in addition to being well adapted for transmitting ordinary mail-matter and papers from one station to another, may also be used for any like purpose, such as transmitting small packages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A box for a parcel or mail carrier provided with an interior compartment open at one end for receiving the articles, in combination with a spring member arranged within said compartment at the open end thereof for retaining therein the contents of said box, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A box for a parcel or mail carrier provided with an interior compartment open at one end. for receiving the articles, in combination with a spring member arranged within said compartment and bearing against a fixed point within said compartment for retaining therein the contents of said box, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A box for a parcel or mail carrier provided with an interior compartment open at one end for receiving the articles, in combination with a spring member arranged within said compartment at the open end thereof and projecting beyond the same for retaining Within the compartment the contents of said box, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A box for a parcel or mail carrier provided with an interior compartment open at one end for receiving the articles, in combination with a spring member arranged within said compartment at the open end thereof and projecting beyond the same for retaining within the compartment the contents of said box, the projecting end of said spring member being rounded or made blunt for readily manipulating the spring by hand, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A box for a parcel or mail carrier provided with an interior compartment open at one end for receiving the articles, in combination with a spring member secured to a fixed point a'considerable distance from said open end of the box and extending outwardly to the open end and bearing against a fixed point at or near the open end, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A tubular box for a parcel or mail carrier having one end thereof open, in combination with a spring finger or strip secured to a fixed point at the side of the interior of the box near the closed end and extending forwardly to the open end and bearing against a fixed point at or near said open end, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. COLEMAN.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH R. ScHoENFELD, (J. J. HEERMANOE. 

